1. You've heard of my pigeon's tumble
And understood her talk among people

2. What's past is past, though my tumble
Is the strangest thing of its day

3. I stumbled in a bathroom corner
At dawn, when night was turning gray

4. With a wine-colored veil of passion
Intoxicated by love's vertigo

5. I met my beloved, softly swaying
Like a delicate bough in the wind

6. I said “My lord, come hither”
With a beautiful smiling glance

7. He disrobed like a sword drawn
From its sheath by a bold warrior

8. For two nights his loincloth and hair
Shone like the full moon at its brightest

9. Pearls of saliva dripped down his chin
Scattered without order or reason

10. When his dark moles hinted coyly
Of his delicate, soft-skinned beauty

11. The roses swore his cheeks outshone them
When shaded by clouds’ drizzling rain

12. Then the musk braids showed their curls
Like his soft cheeks when he’s sleeping

13. From his lily-white skin the myrtle’s blush shone
Amidst beauty, as his cheeks slumbered

14. The water streamed down his body
Like my red tears in bitter torment

15. So soft he could melt in the water
And flow with that pushing and shoving

16. Then the curler’s hand, comb in tow
Undid his hairdo, to my dismay

17. “Do his hair nicely,” I implored
“And free me of this lad’s madness”

18. “Treat him well, as you wish, though my heart
Is consumed with love and desire for him”

19.
The purifying waters drenched me

20. As they asked about my vertigo

21. When they shook out the towels, ambergris
Wafted amidst the bustling crowd

22. We blamed the mole-adorning one,
Not the other servants, for this

23. Gently they drew the water
Greeting me courteously

24. “O bathhouse, you are my joy and woe,
My health and sickness!”

25. Every pigeon in you is sweet
So your beauty brings good fortune

26. Take my flaming passion
My sudden tears of intimacy

27. How many tears have I shed in your halls
Though none know my love or agony

28. I swayed then imagined I saw him
As if in a dream

29. I stumbled after him as I left
Lost in wishes and fantasy

30. Seeing me fallen before him
He scolded me with oaths

31. Madly in love, I kissed him
Ripping the veil from his face

32. What a wondrous tumble that mended
My heart, though it crushed my bones!

33.
So I walk unable to control

34. Myself, or even stand
So forgive me for missing duties

35. And the honored assembly
Hear me, O virtuous one,

36. Like scattered seeds upon the wine
In earnest and play, lawful and forbidden

37. Of her magic and its unlawfulness
You’re my ally, helper, and refuge

38. O noble one, my champion
Your fraternity is my protection